Wenying Shi
BA (Nankai Univeristy, China) MA (Harvard University)

For the past decade, Wenying has studied and worked in the United States. Prior to moving to the US, she was a certified CSL (Chinese as a Second Language) instructor for five years at South China Normal University in Guangzhou. Wenying received her BA degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Nankai Univeristy in Tianjin, China. She went on to receive her MA degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University, with a concentration in literature. One of her specializations is second language acquisition pedagogy.

Wenying has translated numerous writings from Chinese into English and English to Chinese. She is currently co-authoring a book on Chinese tea houses with her husband who is a professional photographer. Wenying enjoys reading English literature and watching films. She also likes to hike and do Yoga and Taiji. Her favorite passtimes are practicing the art of Chinese tea making and playing the ancient Chinese musical instrument called the Guzheng.

return to top

Kumu Keli‘i Taua
PhD Philosophy

Keli‘i Taua is a respected Kumu Hula, musician, composer and Hawaiian Cultural Specialist. He has been involved with Hawaiian youth as an educator with the Hawai‘i Department of Education for many years. Kumu has been teaching with the Maui Language Institute since 2003, both in the Intensive English and Rainbow Studies programs. Hawaiian Studies is an integral part of the Maui Language Institute content-based learning program which connects language and culture.

return to top

Kumu Kapono Kamauna
Master Hula Teacher and Performer

Kapono hails from Maui where he graduated from Baldwin High School and studied Hawaiian Studies and liberal arts at the university level. He graduated as a Kumu Hula in 2001 after nine years of study under Kumu Keli‘i Tau‘a. He has taught Hawaiian Studies and hula at Haleakala Waldorf School, Maui Waena Intermediate School and Baldwin High School. He is the vice president of the Polynesian Tahiti Fete and can be seen in performance as a chanter and dancer at the Old Lahaina Luau.

return to top

Derek Snyder
BA (Anthropology, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo), MA (English as a Second Language, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa)

Derek began his career as an ESL professional by teaching English in Japan. After returning from Japan, Derek pursued a Master's degree in ESL at the University of Hawai‘i - Manoa. His graduate studies was focused on content-based curriculum development for the ESL students. Since 2001, Derek has taught ESL extensively across many campuses in the University of Hawai‘i system.

Derek is an instructor for the Second Language Studies department at the UH-Center on Maui as well as an instructor in the English Department for Maui Community College. He is also the short-term program coordinator for the Maui Language Institute. In his free time, Derek enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and watching sports.

return to top

Ian Edmondson
BS (Secondary Ed., Michigan State University), MA (Creative Writing, Western Michigan University)

In addition to teaching at MLI, Ian teaches developmental English and creative writing at UH Maui College where he has been an instructor for the past four years. He previously taught full-time at an award winning middle school in Michigan. Before pursuing teaching and graduate studies, Ian was a member of the U.S. Ski Team. He competed in the acrobatic snow sport of freestyle skiing on the international World Cup tour for twelve years. He also ran his own ski camps and coached many young competitors from Japan, Europe, and North America. In Hawaii Ian enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities and is also an artist specializing in ceramic sculpture.

return to top

Susan Briggs - Guest Faculty
BA (California State University), BBS (Weber State College) MEd (University of Hawaii, Manoa), PhD (University of Hawaii, Manoa)

Susan has an extensive teaching career in ESL both in Hawaii and on the US mainland. Prior to joining the faculty at the Maui Language Institute, Susan was an instructor and administrator with the Pasadena City College where she also supervised and coordinated all operations in the ESL multimedia lab. During her doctorate degree, Susan specialized in Higher Education Administration and conducted her research in The Impact of Video Disc Computer Assisted Instruction on College Students Studying English as a Second Language. Susan is currently the Coordinator of the ESL program at Pasedena College in Los Angeles.

return to top

Joseph E. Scuro, Jr.
Attorney at Law

Joe is licensed to practice law in the states of Texas and Ohio, the United States Supreme Court, Court of Military Appeals and numerous federal appellate and district courts. He was attorney of record in cases featured on Sixty Minutes (CBS), 20/20 (ABC), Hard Copy, A Current Affair, and Inside Edition. He has also authored or contributed chapters on over 90 articles and books dealing with public entity, law enforcement, employment discrimination, business law or other legal subject matters. Joe has lectured or instructed courses nationally since 1978 at numerous colleges, law schools, graduate programs and continuing education. He has taught custom designed business law courses for visiting international lawyers and business professionals at the Maui Language Institute.

return to top

Jennifer Aly
MA (English as a Second Language Education, University of Tennessee)

Jennifer holds a Master's degree in English as a Second Language (ESL) Education from the University of Tennessee. She began teaching ESL in 1999. She received an academic fellowship from the U.S. Department of State to work in Honduras, Central America as a teacher and consultant for 2002-2003. Currently a lecturer in the English Department at Maui Community College, she has also taught English for Art Purposes at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Academic English at the University of Tennessee and was a full-time Instructor at Tennessee Wesleyan College. As a freelance writer, she has a blog, writes for magazines and loves playing with words. In her spare time Jennifer enjoys playing tennis, swimming, learning about Hawaiian culture, traveling, hiking, hula hooping and watching movies.

return to top

Sydney Villegas
BSE English (Philippine Normal University), MFA in Theatre Arts (University of the Philippines)

Sydney has extensive experience in teaching ESL and Theater Arts from the Philippines. She obtained her Diploma in TESOL from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education-Regional Language Centre (SEAMEO-RELC) in Singapore. Sydney has traveled extensively throughout Asia training teachers on the use of stage arts in ESL classrooms. She directs plays and oral interpretation pieces, writes textbooks on language and creative dramatics, and hosts parties and events. At present, Sydney is a candidate for a PhD in Applied Linguistics at De La Salle University-Manila. She enjoys spending her free time with her family on the beach.

return to top

Katheryn Pettie
BA (International Relations, University of Puget Sound)

Growing up on Maui has given Katheryn a love and deep appreciation of diversity. Katheryn's interest in cross-cultural communication led to a degree in International Relations from the University of Puget Sound in Washington State. During her time in school, Katheryn also studied abroad in Germany and traveled extensively throughout the European Union. Katheryn loves to travel domestically and internationally and is a passionate advocate for programs that encourage cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. Katheryn relishes adventures that take her outdoors. Her favorite pastimes include hiking, running, cooking, camping, kayaking and working with youth.

return to top

Morgan Andaluz
BA (Western Washington University), MA (Western Washington University)

Morgan Andaluz has a Masters of Arts in Teaching Languages and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Western Washington University. Morgan began her teaching career in Mexico, where she lived for three years. During that time, she taught English as a Foreign Language at the Universidad Vasco de Quiroga in Morelia, Mexico. She is currently working on a Masters degree in English, and has been teaching reading and writing in the credit English program here at MCC for four years. Previously, Morgan lived on Oahu, where she taught Spanish, ESL, and College Reading and Writing for eight years. Morgan loves to surf, paddle and do Yoga in her free time.

return to top

Doug Karatsu
BA (Psychology, UCLA)

Doug was born and raised in Long Beach, California, but has lived on Maui for the past 9 years. After graduating from college, he taught English in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) for three years as part of a sister city program between Long Beach, CA and Yokkaichi City in Mie Prefecture. Doug also studied Japanese and Japanese Economics at Keio University in Tokyo.

Doug has taught conversational English at MLI's summer program and taught private lessons for MLI as well. In his free time, Doug enjoys surfing, golf, and watching movies.

return to top

Stephen Outlaw-Spruell
BA (Emory University)

Before arriving on Maui this spring, Stephen spent 19 years living and teaching English in Japan. He served as a guest lecturer at Sanyo Women's Junior College and Hiroshima Prefectural University where he taught reading, writing and grammar. During his time in Japan, he also managed three language schools and designed the curriculums for adult conversation classes, children's introductory English classes, and English daycare for toddlers. He has also taught Business English to executives in Japan and the US. Stephen enjoys hiking, cycling and swimming, and is currently studying Hawaiian chants, hula and the Hawaiian language.

return to top

Marissa Hanada
BA (International Studies, Pepperdine University)

During Marissa's undergraduate career at Pepperdine University, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and also traveled throughout Europe . After graduating from Pepperdine University, she received formal ESL training through the JET program, and was an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) for two years in Fukuoka, Japan as part of the Exchange and Teaching (JET). In her free time, Marissa loves being outdoors, especially at the beach, and also enjoys baking and cooking for her friends and family, and staying in touch with her friends back in Japan.

return to top

Rosanna Cabatic - Student Services Specialist
BA (Political Science, Hollins University)

Rosanna is a native of Maui who has recently returned from an extensive six year period in Roanoke and Richmond, Virginia. After receiving her Bachelor's degree, Rosanna settled in Virginia and worked for a private, non-profit humane shelter (Richmond SPCA) and became active in a variety of not-for-profit organizations. She joins the Maui Language Institute staff with numerous travel experiences domestically and internationally, including living and working on a ranch in Montana and studying for a semester at the University of London.

return to top

Dallen Nakamura - Student Services Specialist

Dallen was born and raised on Maui. After graduating high school, he moved to Colorado to attend university and experience the four seasons. His passion for the snow and outdoor activities enticed him to stay for six years while he earned a B.S. degree in Restaurant and Resort Management at Colorado State University. After returning to Hawaii and working for several years, Dallen decided to pursue his dream of living in Japan and seeing more of the world. He spent a year abroad at Konan University in Kobe, Japan, studying the Japanese language and culture. This experience lead to his desire to work with international students and to assist them with their transition to Maui. Dallen spends his free time hiking, playing the piano, and practicing magic.

return to top